A27017:1673
The Saints' Everlasting Rest
The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is showed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is shewed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by Rob. White for Thomas Underhil and Francis Tyton, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The moral arguments of a Heathen Philosopher may make the burden somewhat lighter; but nothing can make us soundly joy in tribulation, except we can fetch our joy from Heaven. How came Abraham to leave his Country, and follow God he knew not whither? Why, because he looked for a City that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Heb. 11.8, 9, 10. What made Moses choose affliction with the people of God, rather then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season? and to esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt? Why, because he had respect to the recompense of Reward. Heb. 11.24, 25, 26. What made him to forsake Egypt, and not to fear the wrath of the King? Why, he endured, as seeing him who is invisible, ver. 27. How did they quench the violence of fire? And out of weakness were made strong,1 &c. Why would they not accept deliverance when they were tortured? Why, they had their eye on a better Resurrection which they might obtain. Yea, it is most evident that our Lord himself did fetch his encouragement to sufferings from the fore-sight of his glory: For to this end he both dyed, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living, Rom. 14.9. Even Jesus the author and finisher of our faith for the joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. Heb. 12.2. Who can wonder that pain and sorrow, poverty and sickness should be exceeding grievous to that man who cannot reach to see the end? Or that Death should be the King of terrors to him, who cannot see the life beyond it? He that looks not on the end of his sufferings, as well as on the suffering it self, he needs must lose the whole consolation: And if he see not the quiet fruit of righteousness, which it afterward yieldeth, it cannot to him be joyous, but grievous, Heb. 12.11. This is the noble advantage of ⟨p. 626⟩